Valve Allegedly Threatened Delistings Over Cheaper Store Prices

For the last five years Valve has been at the center of a class action lawsuit in which developers allege the company holds a monopoly and penalizes partners that undercut Steam prices elsewhere. The suit began in the U.S. in 2021, was originally filed by Humble Bundle and Wolfire Games co‑founder David Rosen, and has since been expanded by several other developers; Bloomberg recently ran an extensive report on the case.

The current complaint says Valve captures “a disproportionate share” of PC gaming growth and enforces a “supracompetitive” 30‑percent commission. It also outlines a so‑called “Platform Most Favored Nation” clause that plaintiffs say forbids developers from offering games on other stores for cheaper prices or with better features.

A separate, similar case is ongoing in the UK. Bloomberg reviewed documents from the suits that include Rosen’s testimony that he was told a game would be removed from Steam if it was discounted on Humble Bundle.

United States

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